R 241249Z SEP 13
ALCGPSC 120/13
SUBJ: CASUALTY AND DECEDENT AFFAIRS - BURIAL BENEFIT INCREASE
A. COMDTINST M1770.9, Military Casualties and Decedent Affairs
B. DODI 1344.08, Interment Allowance for Deceased Military Personnel,
Change 1
C. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 141557Z JUN 07/ALCOAST 298/07
1. Burial benefit allowances increased on 17 April 2013 for
regular members and cadets who die on active duty and reserve members
who die in the line of duty. The burial benefit is also known as
interment allowance.
2. Chapter 2 of Ref A authorizes reimbursement of funeral and
burial expenses due to the death of an eligible member. Coast Guard
practice is to match the reimbursement limits published in Ref B for
the Department of Defense. The new burial benefit reimbursement
limits have been posted on the USCG Casualty Matters website
at http://www.uscg.mil/psc/psd/fs/Casualty.asp. These new limits are
the maximum amounts that may be reimbursed to the Person Authorized
to Direct Disposition (PADD) of remains of a deceased member, when
the PADD elects to personally arrange some or all of the burial
services. The PADD will bear all costs that exceed the maximum
reimbursement levels. Recovery and transportation expenses are in
addition to the burial benefit.
3. The PADD may release authority to the Coast Guard to
make arrangements consistent with the wishes of the family. In this
case the Coast Guard will pay all reasonable expenses for a casket
of standard quality, mortuary preparation of the remains, funeral
and burial. The Coast Guard is not constrained by the burial
allowance limits mentioned in paragraph 2, above. These limits only
apply for reimbursement to the PADD or other appropriate person.
Reasonable contracting procedures are still required while making
arrangements consistent with the wishes of the PADD.
4. The burial benefits published in Ref C still apply for deaths
from 1 April 2007 through 16 April 2013. Chief, Casualty Matters
Program may consider exceptions.
5. Use form DD-1375, Request for Payment of Funeral and
Interment Expenses, to file a funeral expense claim. Claim
procedures, Statement of Disposition of Remains form, and other
Casualty Matters Program information can be found
at http://www.uscg.mil/psc/psd/fs/Casualty.asp.
6. Coast Guard Casualty Matters Program POC is LT Sean Arumae,
sean.r.arumae(at)uscg.mil, (703) 872-6647.
7. RDML Dave Callahan, Commander, CG Personnel Service Center, sends.
8. Internet release authorized.